What is cyber warfare?
Cyber warfare is the use of hacking, malware, and digital attacks by nation-states or their proxies to damage, disrupt, or spy on adversaries. Unlike traditional warfare, cyber attacks can hit civilian infrastructure — hospitals, banks, power grids, and businesses.
The Stryker attack: a case study
On March 11, 2026, Iranian-aligned hacking group Handala claimed a massive attack on U.S. medical device giant Stryker:
- 200,000 systems affected across 79 countries
- 50 terabytes of data allegedly extracted
- Corporate networks, software, and communications disrupted
- The group claimed it was retaliation for a strike on an Iranian school
This attack demonstrated that cyber warfare has direct civilian consequences — potentially affecting hospital surgical equipment and patient care worldwide.
How cyber warfare affects you
| Target | Consumer impact |
|---|---|
| Healthcare companies | Medical device shortages, delayed surgeries |
| Banks | Account access disruptions, fraud risk |
| Power grid | Blackouts, heating/cooling failures |
| Gas pipelines | Fuel shortages (like the 2021 Colonial Pipeline) |
| Government | Tax refund delays, benefit processing issues |
How to protect yourself
- Enable two-factor authentication on all important accounts
- Watch for phishing — Iran-linked groups use sophisticated email scams
- Back up important data regularly
- Update software to patch known vulnerabilities
- Monitor bank accounts for unusual activity
Sources: CNN, Cyber Magazine, Global News